Hey guys. I was thinking about Iraq Study Group Report, which was welcomed by Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and John Howard, however was rejected by the Bush Administration. Bush chose to enlarge US troops rather than withdraw them like Baker-Hamilton commission suggested. I would personally tend to the strategy of withdrawal, however by securing that Iran, which is extremely hostile against the West and Israel, would not take over the control of the Middle Eastern matters. There would be nothing worse than that. By the way, the solution Obama promotes is clearly wrong. The U.S. cannot just withdraw the troops and leave a big black hole behind them. It would harm U.S. interest in the Middle East and worldwide, (and generally the interests of the Western civilization as a whole). I think that the immediate result of a sudden withdrawal would be another terrorist attack on the U.S. soil, this time with weapons of mass destruction (see recent reports by EastWest Institute: http://www.ewi.info/tempPDF/tn7.pdf and Chatham House http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/pdf/research/niis/CBRN0207.pdf) In my opinion the solution would be a withdrawal (eventually we will have to unless McCain becomes the next President) however through strengthening the position in the region of Turkey, which is US ally and which presently endeavors to join the European Union. It can be done in the way it is described in this extensive study: http://www.europeancourier.org/27.htm Put briefly: Iraq should be partitioned in two parts: Iraqi Kurdistan and the rest. Then the Iraqi Kurdistan should be joined to Turkey which would expand to include that territory. Turkey would be transformed into a federal state (like the United States) and would contain the heartland Turkey and the Kurdistan. The Kurdistan would be a part of the federation. It would have enormous impact on Iran and Syria (the biggest terrorist supporters), because they have huge Kurdish minorities within their territories. As a result of the creation of Kurdistan within federal Turkey, Iranian and Syrian Kurds would demand the same thing within Iran or Syria or might start secessionist movements. That would cause Iran and Syria to focus on their internal affairs rather than on disturbing situation in Iraq. Turkey would become regional superpower and would overshadow Iran; moreover because the Kurdish issue would be resolved satisfactory, Turkey would meet human rights requirements of the Council of Europe and would be able to join the European Union. Turkey would become the role model of democracy in the Middle East (Iraq will never be such a one even if Bush remained in power for the next two terms) and would gain control over the Kurdistan within their borders. Therefore there would be no new Kurdish-Turkish conflict.

Interesting proposition. Obviously it appears to be a cut-and-dry solution. This seems like a good answer, from the "big brother" point of view especially. The only question I have right now is how do you think they would feel about this? It seems like a fair compromise, but how rational have they proven themselves to be? Is it feasible that this plan could be carried out without major repercussions?

To divide the country up like that is only asking for misery and disaster down the road.

Unfortunately the answer was to never start this insane war in the first place. Since we created this mess I feel like it is our responsibility to help the Iraqi people stabilize their country but this doesn't seem like it can be achieved. The troop increase Bush wants is not nearly enough and our military is stretched too thing as it is...

It seems like Bush has painted us into a corner where we must call a draft or simply withdraw immediately and deal with the consequences as alertly as possible.

To divide the country up like that is only asking for misery and disaster down the road.

Unfortunately the answer was to never start this insane war in the first place. Since we created this mess I feel like it is our responsibility to help the Iraqi people stabilize their country but this doesn't seem like it can be achieved. The troop increase Bush wants is not nearly enough and our military is stretched too thing as it is...

It seems like Bush has painted us into a corner where we must call a draft or simply withdraw immediately and deal with the consequences as alertly as possible.

I'm torn but lean towards the latter.

So you don't think that withdrawal will allow the country to fall under another totalitarian regime and suffer severe sectarian strife?

So you don't think that withdrawal will allow the country to fall under another totalitarian regime and suffer severe sectarian strife?

It could very well lead to another totalitarian regime, complete civil war, ethnic cleansing, and other misery. But we may not have much else of a choice. This is definitely Bush's and our modern era's "Vietnam". I think we will have to withdraw from Iraq just like we did there.

The other alternative would be to call a draft and see this thing through. But I really don't think it was the intention of our government to help the Iraqi people in the first place. First it was a connection to 9/11, then a connection to Al Queda, then WMD's... lies. There were many countries with people in more dire need than Iraq but they lack a certain natural resource.

It could very well lead to another totalitarian regime, complete civil war, ethnic cleansing, and other misery. But we may not have much else of a choice. This is definitely Bush's and our modern era's "Vietnam". I think we will have to withdraw from Iraq just like we did there.

The other alternative would be to call a draft and see this thing through. But I really don't think it was the intention of our government to help the Iraqi people in the first place. First it was a connection to 9/11, then a connection to Al Queda, then WMD's... lies. There were many countries with people in more dire need than Iraq but they lack a certain natural resource.

So despite those things you STILL think that's the best option? Get out while the getting's good?

So despite those things you STILL think that's the best option? Get out while the getting's good?

I don't think we have the resources or support to draft.

I don't think we can stabilize the country with our current troop level.

I think that only leaves us with withdrawing and hoping they can sort it out themselves over time. We can still support them with food, medicine and rebuilding (start with schools and hospitals) when the time comes.

If we do withdraw we have to be really alert to the fact that this war probably created more enemies of America than ever before. Invest more in defending the homeland.

I don't think we can stabilize the country with our current troop level.

I think that only leaves us with withdrawing and hoping they can sort it out themselves over time. We can still support them with food, medicine and rebuilding (start with schools) when the time comes.

If we do withdraw we have to be really alert to the fact that this war probably created more enemies of America than ever before. Invest more in defending the homeland.

Makes sense. I just wish there was a way we could leave it in better shape.